Benefits of Red Clover

Ah, Spring is in the air, and with it, the coming of “weeds”.

Now, as most of you know, dandelions and red clover are NOT weeds to be killed off, but precious plants that are food for bees and have great medicinal benefits for us. Let’s discuss red clover for example.

Red Clover, or Tifolium pratense

has anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, anti-microbial properties as well as being nutritional, lymphatic and an anti-oxidant. It also has antisepti and analgesic qualtities to it that make it a wonderful item to have in your herbal medicine cabinet. The minerals you can gain from this gorgeous little flowering plant include, but are not limited to, calcium, chromium, magnesium, potassium, protein, fatty acids, and phytoestrogens, which may help balance hormones.

Of course, red clover should be used with caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding and only as a tea. You don’t want to use it as a tincture during this time, as it may be too strong. It can increase the metabolism of certain drugs in the liver, as it acts as a tonic, so please make sure to discuss usage with your health care provider if you are taking other medications. Again, using common sense, even with herbals is your best bet.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy red clover is as a tea.

I like to take about 1 ounce dried blossoms, 4 cups boiling water and infuse that in a quart sized mason jar. It’s delicious with honey or agave nectar and you can drink it hot or cold. This is best enjoyed within 24 hours of making it, and really no more than 1-2 times a week due to it’s potential to thin the blood.

I have enjoyed learning more about red clover and it’s benefits from Natural Herbal Living Magazine.

All the information I shared with you comes from them as well, so you can see it’s chock full of useful knowledge! Each month, they have subscription boxes that are chock full of goodies featuring that month’s herb. Of course, this one was the red clover and it included

dried red clover

herbal liver tonic tea

red clover liquid extract tincture

red clover flower essence

herbal face wash

red clover sprouting seeds

There is also a brief materia medica about each herb and how to use it

along with benefits and contradications. I love the tea blend, and we have enjoyed it several times a week since getting the box. The red clover essence, which is helpful during stressful times and the tincture, which is supportive during illness have been a blessing as well when my family has gotten those nasty Spring colds. But, by far, I am loving the herbal face wash.

It’s a blend of red clover, lavender and gluten free oats and has been great for both my dry skin and my daughter’s combination skin. Oh, it feels lovely! We are planning on sowing the sprouting seeds in a garden bed this Spring, as clover is a great nitrogen fixer and will be awesome for the bee colony we are getting! It’s a perennial so I am sure we will keep getting awesome flowers each year from it as well.

just a thought on red clover. my son had a thing for eating it when he was little. he later developed a tumour on his kidney. turns out the clover had formed a bubble around the tumour and stopped it from spreading. needless to say I left the rest of my kids eat what ever they wanted after that. ps my son is now 31 and a dad of 2 so all good thank god

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The information provided on The Homesteading Hippy is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to prescribe, diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is your responsibility to educate yourself and address any health or medical needs you may have with your physician. Please seek professional help when needed.